US1846590A

US1846590A - Traffic signal

Info

Publication number: US1846590A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1932-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 1949-02-23

Description

Feb. 23, 1932,. s. A. ESKILSON TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed March 25, 1926 lIII v 1 N VEN TOR.

, ATTORNEY.

2 'WV' -Z" Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES BVEN AUGUST ESKII'SON, OF STOCKHO LM,

* OFFICE swnnm', assumes. '10 AMERICAN Gas-ne'- 'cUMULATon comrm, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, a CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY' 'rmwrc SIGNAL Application filed March 25, use, Serial smears}, m in'Sweden much so, 1925.

The present invention relates to improvements in traflic signals for road users, such as automobilists and is of the kind, consist-' ing of one or more signals of triangular shape, adapted to indicate that caution is necessary and that the speed of travel must be reduced when passing the si nal.

The invention has for its ob ect to make such signals visible not only in daylight but 1 also in darkness, or during the night, by

placing reflectors of a known type in the outer or inner corners of the triangle or triangles, said reflectors being adapted for total reflection of rays incident thereon and bein' arranged to reflect said incident rays bac in a direction practically parallel to that from which they originally came. When the rays from a lantern or" from the headlight of an. automobile impinge on such 'a signal, they are reflected back to the automobile and,

as the said reflectors are placed in the corners of the triangle, the same type of signal is indicated to the driver, as that which he is accustomed to observe in day light as a danger signal.

, The accompanying drawings illustrate various constructionsof trafiic signal devices according to the invention.

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a sig nal embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are views in front elevation ofstructures embodying modifications 36 of-the invention and Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of a solid central triple reflector.

In Fig. 1 the numeral lindicates a reflector holder and support of triangular shape, which may be built up from sheet strips, in the usual manner, so that a triangular opening 9'is formed. or the triangle may be formed as a triangular cast iron plate, which is strengthened by a flange 2, as actually illustrated in the constructions shown in the drawings. This triangle, whether built up or integral in structure, is provided with a sleeve 3 at its base, forv enabling the signal to be mounted on a supporting post, the upper portion only of which is shown.

gEachfofthe corners ofthe triangle 1 is provided with an opening, adapted to receive atrianguIarfgIasS pylramid 5, shown separately Fig. (Lin suc manner thatthe pyramidextends rearwardly from the triangular 1 support 1, the lane base surface of the pyramid'being flus with the front surface of the said support 1. The" pyramid is-secured in any suitable manner infthe opening for instance by cementing it in position. in order to protect that part of the glass pyramid situated behind the triangle 1, a; covering 4 is provided which inclose the'pyramid 5. The coverings for the refle tors 5, which in the construction shown'are of central triple type, consist of hollowpyramidal projections which are shown integral with the supporting plate 1 but such integralityis not an essential part of the construction. The openings through the plate 1 for the reception of the reflectors are in eflect parts of the cavities in the said projections for the reception of the reflectors. The side walls of the openings into the cavities of the said projections are provided with narrow'bead-like projections 4" which contact with the sides of the reflectors along lines in adjoining relation to the front edges of the said sides as is indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. These supporting pro ections 4 contacting with the reflectors 5 su port the latter with the portions thereof in rear of said supporting projectionsspaced from and out of contact with the inner surfaces of the sides of the coverings 4:. In other words, the portions of the reflectors 5 in rear of the supporting projections 4' do not contact with any part of the structure. The supporting pro'ections 4 are located in a plane a short distance in rear of the plane of the front surface of the supporting platel so that spaces are pro-' vided in front of the said projections 4" for the reception of a suitable cement oradhesive for engaging the outer edge portions of the sides of the reflectors for retaining them in place within the openings of the supporting plate 1. When employing such hollow metal pyramids 4 their inner surfaces may be coated or plated-with a reflecting material or may be made rereceive an additional glass pyramid. In the construction shown in Figure 4 the o enings for the reflectors 5 are provided wit in the inner corners of the triangle 1, (in positions equivalent to the corners of the openings 9 in Figure 1), and receive glass pyramids in the same manner as has been described with reference to the preceding examples.

Finally, Figure 5 shows the application of the invention to a known type of signal with two triangles 1 and 7 having a common vertical side 8. In the outer corners of these triangles, openings are provided, for the re fleeting glass pyramids 5 with the aid of which the outlines will be visible in darkness to a vehicle with lanterns or headlights.

The reflectors as disclosed in the drawings have central .triple reflecting surfaces, but reflectors of other kinds .may be employed provided the reflecting surfaces thereof are so related to each other as to efl'ect reflection of the light rays in directions substantially parallel with the incident rays.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. A traflic signal comprising a support of selected outline having openings at selected points therein reflectors supported in said openings, the front portions of said reflectors being substantially flush with the front surface of the said support, the said reflectors extending rearwardly with respect to said support, protecting covering means for the rearwardly extending portions of the said reflectors, and means in engagement with the sides of said reflectors near their front edges for supporting the same in spaced relation to the said covering means.

2. A traflic signal comprising a supporting plate having openings in the corners thereof, reflectors mounted in said openings with the front portions thereof flush with the front surface of said support, which reflectors extend rearwardly with respect to the said support, and covering means carried by the said support for the said reflectors to protect the same, and means for providinga space between the said reflectors and the inner side of said covering means. i

3. A traflic signal comprising a support of sheet material of polygonal shape having triangular openings located in the corners thereof, reflectors of triangular pyramidal shape located within said openings, the front portions of said reflectors being substantially flush with the front surface of the said support, and said reflectors tapering rearwardly with respect to said support, protecting means for the said reflectors and projections extending inwardly from the sides of said openings and engaging said reflectors for supporting the same.

4. A traflic signal comprising a support consisting of a plate of triangular shape having triangular openings in the corners thereof and also having portions extending rearwardly from the edges of said openings to form hollow triangular pyramidal projections upon the rear side thereof, the inner adjoining surfaces of which are arranged in rightangular relation to each other and reflecting means of pyramidal shape located within the said hollow projections, the front portions of said reflecting means being substantially flush with the front surface of the said support.

5. A traflic signal comprising a sheet metal support of polygonal shape having equilateral triangular openings in the corners thereof and also having portions extending rearwardly from the edges of the said openings andconverging toward a point'and forming projections of pyramidal shape, the inner adjoining surfaces of which are in right angular relation to each other, and reflectors having central triple reflecting surfaces located within said openings and within the said pyramidal rearwardly extending projections, the front portions of said reflectors being substantially flush with the front surface of the said support.

6. A traflic signal comprising a support of suitable plate material provided with openings at selected points therein, reflectors mounted within said openings and extending rearwardly therefrom, the front portions of said reflectors being substantially flush with the front surface of said support, means carried by the said support and projecting rearwardly therefrom to cover the said reflectors to protect the same, and means for providing a space between the sides of said reflectors and the said covering means.

7. A traflic signal, comprising a support of selected outline, said support consisting of a single casting, recesses formed in said support at selected points, inwardly extending projections located upon the inner sides of said recesses near the outer open ends thereof, and prismatic central triple reflectors located in said recesses and contacting with and being supported by the said projections, the outer surfaces of said reflectors being substantially flush with the front surface of said suppgi't. ffi a 8. tra 0 signal, com risin a su ort of selected outline, rearwar dly ex ending groections formed integrally with the said support, the said support having openings which extend t herethrough and into the said projections to provide recesses which open upon the front of said support, li ht reflector means within said recesses, and a-nges formed tegrally wit-h the said support and extending rearwardly-therefrom for strengthening the latter.

9. A traflic signal comprising a support of selected outline, rearwardly extendln projections formed integrally with sai support, the said support having openings therethrough which are extended lnto the said projections to provide recesses in the front of said support, flanges connected to said projections for strengthening the said support, and reflectors located in said recesses, the front surfaces of said reflectors ing substantially flush with the front surface of the said support. 1 I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s ecification.

SVE N' AUGUST. ESKILSON.